Zak Kent is drafted by Texas Rangers

June 12, 2019

From left are Allen, Zak and Sherrie Kent.

by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi

Zak Kent of Heathsville was cut the first time he tried out for a travel baseball team. He was also pulled up to varsity then sent back down to junior varsity as a freshman baseball player at Northumberland High School.

But he never gave up and now he’s living every Little Leaguer’s dream.

Last Tuesday, the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) junior right-hander was selected in the ninth round of the 2019 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft by the Texas Rangers. He left Richmond Sunday for Arizona where he’ll sign his contract.

“Right now, I don’t know where my life is gonna take me,” said Kent. “But I’m excited.”

Kent is the first NHS graduate and the first Northern Neck District baseball player to be drafted since Essex High’s Harold Mozingo in 2003. He is also the fourth-highest draft pick in VMI baseball history.

After being scouted by 15 or 16 major league teams, Kent heard from three that…